Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-04-16
The Colonel's Daughter.
BY EMMA A. OPPER.

BY EMMA A. OPPER.
Deacon Holcomb stamped the snow off
his boots and sat down by the kitchen
fire, looking around at the family with
unusual seriousness.
His wife and pretty daughter, Kate,
were chopping meat and pairing apples
for mince- pies; and his tall son,
"Gene," was mending a wash-tub.
Mrs. Holcomb looked at the deacon
sharply, and suspended her chopping-
knife.
Anything the matter2" she said, anx-
iously.
''Nothing very bad" the deacon re-
sponded, looking across the stove at her
atfectionately. "You won't think so,
anyhow. l says to Seth and William, Il
know just what she'll say'-meaning
you"
"What on earth are you talking
sbOut!'
''From the Coloncl's lawyer" he an
nounced.
''The Colonel was the dcacon's half
brother, an elderly eccentric person, who
had died month ago in the small West
ern viilage, where he had lived.
Hasn't turned out to be worth pile
of money, and left it to us, has he?' said
Gene, gaily.
''Hain't left us no money" said the
deacon. Hadn't none to leave, reckon.
Pm ruthcr a,tonished. The Colonel was
worth considerable along one spell. No
but he's left us something else
WHAT said Kate, eagerly.
ats from his lawyer. las | says" the
deacon rejoincd, unfolding the letter.
"And Seth and William got copies of it.
We was all at the postotiice when the
mail come, and took 'cm out together.
1t says he went on, slowly and Seth's
and Williams says the very same thing
his daughter Malvina should have a home
out here, with Seth or William or me.
He said that whoever took her would be
doing an act of charity, and would be
sartain to get rewarded in heaven. And
he wanted us all notified in them words. :"
''For the lands sake said Mrs. Hol-
comb.
"Well," said Gene, going on with the
washtub calmly, "of course uncle Seth is
going to take her? He's the best able to- :"
81 ruther expected myself, said the
deacon, hesitatingly, that Seth would
step forward in this here crisis; but he
hain't. He said he didn't hardly see how
he could do it. He said Malvina must
be somewhere nigh fifty by this time;
and being an old maid, she might be
cantankerouS, and Julia Ann mightn't be
able to get along with her. He said
William and me would have to settle it
between us"
''Wcll, never" said Mrs. Holcomb,
indignantly-''hm, with all his money
and that big house,
'What did Uncle William say?" said
Kate. Now see here, Pa Holcomb r'-
as the deacon's kind eyes fell before her
gaze-'you don't mean to say that he's
going to leave it for you to do-you, the
poorest of them all?' E
The deacon moved uneasily.
81 don't want to blame William" he
said, mildly. Il can see it's just as he
says"
''What did he say?" said Kate, her
black eyes flashing
''He said he didn't see how he could
take her, nohow." the deacon replied.
"He's building his new barn, and he
don't feel like having any more expense
just now. And he said he couldn't think
OF boarding people without nothing more
substantial than a reward in heaven to
look forward to-
Hes brute" said Gene. warmly
che and Uncle Seth, both, But You're
not going to let them impose upon Won
father? WHY. neither of them would feel
it; but you-good gracious!o
Gene looked around the bare little
kitchen meaningly.
Il always thought a sight of the
Colonel" said the deacon, looking up at
the cracked ceiling, Though he want
nothing but a halfbrothcr; and | can't
Just bring myself to refuse the shelter of
my house, if it amt much, to any of his
kin. There's where it is.
"You dear old. silly pa ~ cried Kate.
And she slammed her applc-pan ON the
table. rushed around to the deacon's chair
and kissed him violently on the ton of
his bald hea |.
'Your pas right, children said Mrs.
Holcomb, rcsuming her chopping-knife
quietly. 'It's our duty, plain as day, to
take the poor creetur."
"Therc?' said the deacon, triumphantly,